Yes, we are assured they’re like that for safety reasons (though Adrian Newey’s Big Brain thinks otherwise) and it’s a result of a reduced chassis height etc etc, but crikey, they don’t half look weird. And ugly.

Which had us pining for an earlier age where they looked cool. But then we looked a little harder and remembered how there have been some even bigger clangers than the cars presented to us this year.

So here, we present for your persual a selection of historic Formula One cars that aren’t exactly easy on the eye. Are these the ugliest F1 cars in history? Feel free to disagree/suggest other cars/remain calm and nod silently.

1972 Eifelland

Guenther Hennerici was a German man who had a company that made caravans. Guenther’s company that made caravans was very successful and made Guenther some money. Guenther decided he should enter a Formula One car into the 1972 season. The car above was the result. It had problems with overheating and reliability. It also had a bigger problem in that…well, we won’t spell it out for you.

1979 Ensign N179

This was the Ensign team’s effort for the 1979 season. And no, it’s not a stepladder on the front, but rather the car’s radiators. Well, where else would you put them? Oh, that’s right. NOT ON THE NOSE. Surprisingly, it scored nil points in ‘79.

1973 Ferrari 'Spazzaneve'

It pains us to include a Ferrari on this list but there can be no doubt the ‘Spazzaneve’ wasn’t one of the Scuderia’s finest aesthetic creations. But, despite the car originally being discarded and its designer Mauro Forghieri given the boot, it was revised for 1974 (with Forghieri returning) and scored a one-two in Buenos Aires in the hands of Niki Lauda and Clay Regazzoni. But still.

1976 Ligier JS5

The Ligier JS5 is pleased to see you. Shame we are not pleased to see it. Despite looking like a steroidal Smurf, it actually finished on the podium three times in ‘76 and its driver Jacques Laffite earned the team’s first F1 victory the following year.

1971 March 711

Good thing about the March 711? It had a wing inspired by the Spitfire. Spitfires sound excellent and are cool. Bad thing about the March 711? Said Spitfire-esque wing was mounted ON THE FRONT. Like a tea-tray.

1971 Brabham BT34

Double world champion Graham Hill was signed to drive the new, ‘lobster-claw’ racer for the ‘71 F1 season. That nickname referred to the twin-radiators mounted at the front on either side. The fact it was then liveried in green and yellow did not help its cause. It only scored seven points that year.

Pic credit: Gerald Swan

1979 Arrows A2

This ran with ground effect aero, which is very technical and clever and quite cool. The car itself however, was not cool. It was also a bit of a mess to drive, too, with the team reverting to an earlier chassis for the remainder of the season.

2004 Williams FW26

Not the most horrific from this list, but enough to warrant inclusion. Driven by Ralf Schumacher and Juan Pablo Montoya, it had a very lovely BMW 3.0-litre V10 engine, and early tests proved it to be right on the money for pace. But, that front wing: it was nicknamed ‘walrus nose’, and proved to be so bad, it was redesigned 12 races in.

2008 Honda RA108

At the start of 2008, Jenson Button had no idea Honda would leave the sport at the end of the season (nor did he realise this misfortune would later result in him winning the 2009 F1 world championship), but the writing was on the wall quite early on. Actually, it was all on the front wing. Just check out that ‘dumbo wing’ on the nose. Thankfully, his Brawn racer in 2009 was a bit cleaner. And miles better.

1976 Tyrell P34

Well, safe to say the world didn’t see this one coming. You could say it was a radical innovation that helped Jody Scheckter finish first (with his team mate Patrick Depailler coming in second) at the Swedish GP. Or you could just say what you’re thinking. And that is the correct reaction.

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